News from Atlanta, GA

The IRC’s virtual English as a Second Language (ESL) classes assist refugee and immigrant adults to develop the language skills critical for success in our community. All of our programs are currently operating virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staffed and managed by members of Georgia's refugee community, the IRC-CORE COVID-19 mobile testing sites had an incredibly successful first month of operation in Clarkston, drastically increasing access to testing—and contact tracing—with capacity for interpretation in 20 languages. Meet some of our Healthcare Heroes.

IRC volunteers—some long term and some newer—wrote handwritten notes to Adult Education students, inviting them back to class and expressing just how much they are missed.

The back to school process can be challenging at any time but is especially difficult to navigate this year, and several IRC clients mentioned the need for school supplies including an uncertainty about what would be essential and how they should prioritize it in their family budget. Thankfully, our generous supporters and members of the wider community rallied quickly to respond to our call for supplies.

The IRC in Atlanta's Youth Futures program provides daily homework help and academic assistance as well as college preparation support, enrichment and community service activities, opportunities to take field trips and participate in workshops, and more. All of our programs are currently operating virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to your generous donations, 25 dedicated DeKalb County high school students were supported to commit more than 400 hours of their summer break to our first-ever virtual Ready, Set, College! summer camp, preparing them to gain admission to college and succeed in higher education and beyond!

In partnership with DeKalb County Board of Health (DCBOH), the IRC-CORE mobile testing sites will rotate between Clarkston apartment complexes throughout the month of September and into the fall, with the goal of testing 1,500 individuals at each three-day site, using self-administered nasal swab tests.

On July 25, the IRC in Atlanta’s Connect 2 Success (C2S) program hosted its third annual Career Panel—adapted to a virtual platform for the first time due to COVID-19. 30 young adults logged in to hear directly from a panel of professionals working across a variety of fields and learn more about their career options as they plan for the future.

#HelloooAmerica is a low-pressure space where young refugees can access the information they need to lead safe and healthy lives, in a way that affirms their family, culture and futures. This new miniseries is made for and by refugee youth in partnership with the IRC in Atlanta, Advocates for Youth, Parallel World Labs and women-owned Atlanta production studio, Xerophile.

Determined to keep their students engaged in gardening throughout the pandemic, our Youth Futures AmeriCorps Associate, Michel Osta, and FoodCorps Service Member, Meggie Stewart, created the Home Garden Challenge!